Shoplifters sought for pulling a switch at the checkout

May 31, 2011

Suspects are being sought by federal authorities for allegedly stealing $130,000 worth of merchandise from Lowe’s by smuggling it out in toilet and sink boxes, according to an article in the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

A complaint unsealed in Seattle court last week said that Altor, Larsell and Leonard Hollingsworth, along with one of their sons, have been going into Lowe’s stores since 2007 and emptying out toilet and sink boxes so they could fill them with high-end faucets and other items. The brothers, who frequently had female accomplices, would then check out the merchandise for the cost of the toilet or sink, investigators allege. As pat of the scheme, the Hollingsworth brothers are accused of returning the items to different Lowe's stores in Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona for gift cards totaling about $130,000.

Two of the brothers — Altor and Larsell Hollingsworth — have been arrested. Altor's son, Alton, and the other brother, Leonard, remain at large.

A lawyer for Larsell Hollingsworth declined to comment except to note his client is presumed innocent. A lawyer for Altor could not immediately be reached.